The Atawhai Whenua Reserve, owned by the Hauraki Gulf Islands branch of Forest and Bird, is the island's most successful revegetation story. Led by the legendary Don Chapple, islanders have replanted the southern flanks of the Matiatia valley. Don chose the name for the reserve, which is short for as He atawhai ki te whenua. The full name translates as "a kindness toward the land".
The reserve was originally part of the 2100 acre Te Huruhi Block.
Here you can read the Forest and Bird history of the reserve.